Masters in Sports Analytics and Management Advisory Council

The online master’s in sports analytics and management faculty is comprised of sports and evaluation professionals with decades of experience who remain current practitioners in the field. To further ensure the curriculum is current and relevant, a council of sports industry professionals provided advice on the field-specific knowledge and skillsets that graduates of current sports management programs are lacking, leading to this program’s focus on sports analytics and the strategic management of sports enterprises that are evolving in response to technology and innovation.

The advisory council for the sports management master’s includes:

John Paul BasileNational Basketball Association (NBA) John Paul Basile, AU JD ‘89, has spent over 25 years in the global sports and entertainment industry, building partnerships with international brands, media companies, teams, stadiums, governing bodies, halls of fame, attractions, touring properties, arts organizations, ticketing agencies, and others. Most recently, as Assoc. VP, International Development at the NBA, he developed and directed local programming and other fan-building initiatives – such as NBA Global Games, NBA 3X, Jr. NBA – in more than 30 international markets; he also managed the NBA’s International Marketing Partnerships, where he supervised the implementation of partnership benefits and deliverables in international markets and managed U.S.-based international marketing partners. Prior to the NBA, Basile held leadership positions at the Sports Museum of America and Feld Entertainment. He holds a JD from American University’s Washington College of Law, and a BSE from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Jim BradyESPN Jim Brady, AU ’89, currently serves as ESPN’s public editor, providing independent examination, critique, and analysis of ESPN’s programming and news coverage on television and in digital, print, audio, and other media. An award-winning editor and executive with more than 20 years of experience in digital news, Brady is the CEO of Spirited Media, which operates the mobile news platform Billy Penn in Philadelphia and intends to expand soon into other cities. Previously, he served as Executive Editor of Washingtonpost.com, Editor-in-Chief of Digital First Media, General Manager of TBD, and head of News and Sports for America Online. He is a past president and current board member of the Online News Association, and he also serves on the boards of the American Society for News Editors and the National Press Foundation. Brady earned a BA in Print Journalism from American University.

Wylie ChenU.S. Soccer Foundation Wylie Chen, M.Ed., is the Vice President of Programs & Grants and oversees the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s program initiatives and grant-making efforts, including Soccer for Success, Passback, Urban Soccer Symposium, and the Safe Places to Play initiative. Chen has over 15 years’ experience in non-profit management, having previously worked with several national and local organizations focusing on education, child care, health care, and juvenile justice issues. Previously, he worked at the Children’s Defense Fund as the Senior Manager for the CDF Freedom Schools program, a national summer and after-school literacy program serving thousands of low-income children nationwide. Chen previously worked at the Advocacy Institute in Washington, DC, directed a language program at Da Hua High School in Taiwan, and worked for U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. He also served on the DC Commission on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, and he co-founded and co-chaired the DC Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus. He currently serves as a Board Member for Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy. Wylie received a BS in planning, public policy, and management, with minors in women’s studies and business administration from the University of Oregon, and he earned an MA in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

John FitzpatrickNFL Players Association John Fitzpatrick, AU ‘07, is the Marketing Manager for Licensing & Business Development at the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). As a licensing professional for the NFLPA, Fitzpatrick helps the organization develop and grow its licensing and consumer products business. His experience includes prospecting, account management, marketing support, product ideation, retail placement, and strategic planning. An entrepreneur at heart, Fitzpatrick also helped develop products for a start-up called American Car Socks while in graduate school. In sports-specific roles, he has worked with D.C. United, Red Zebra Broadcast, and the Washington Redskins. Fitzpatrick has a Master of Professional Studies in sports industry management from Georgetown University and a BA in journalism from American University.

Dean HessNike Dean Hess, AU MBA ‘07, is an emerging markets business consultant for the Nike Corporation in Beaverton, Oregon. His specialties include international marketing, , business strategy, and operations best practices including project management, organization design and change strategies. . He has more than 15 years of experience as both an internal leader and an external adviser.. Prior to Nike, Dean served in management consulting positions with major firms like Booz Allen, Freddie Mac, and ACME Business Consulting. He holds a BA in history from Principia College and an MBA from the Kogod School of Business at American University.

Cait HugginsOctagon Worldwide Cait Huggins, AU MAT ‘09, serves as legal counsel for the division of Talent and Properties at Octagon, Inc., one of the top sports management agencies in the world. Ms. Huggins previously taught a course on sports law, contracts, and negotiations for the Sports Industry Management program at Georgetown University. Prior to Octagon, she was a corps member with Teach for America. Ms. Huggins holds a JD from George Mason University, an MAT in elementary education from American University, and an MA in political science from Texas Tech University.

Ryan KuehlUnder Armour Ryan Kuehl, AU MBA ‘99, is the Vice President, Sports Marketing and Sponsorships for Under Armour, Inc. He oversees the Golf, Football, Collegiate and Lacrosse categories for UA. He works to ensure the company’s authenticity by strategically targeting professional athletes and professional sport sponsorship opportunities and endorsement contracts. As a twelve year veteran in the National Football League, Kuehl played for the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Super Bowl 42 Champion New York Giants where he was one of the first professional players to sign an endorsement deal with Under Armour. Kuehl also spent seven years as an NFL Player Association Representative and was a member of the NFL Commissioner’s Player Advisory Council. He graduated with a B.S. in Commerce from the University Of Virginia McIntire School Of Commerce. He later received his M.B.A. the Kogod School of Business at American University. He is also a member of the University of Virginia Athletics Foundation and the SEME Advisory Board.

Shawn McBrideKetchum Global Shawn McBride, AU ’95, has more than 15 years’ experience building brands through sports marketing and PR programming. As Executive Vice President of Sports for Ketchum Sports & Entertainment (KSE), McBride provides integrated communications and sponsorship marketing counsel to the group’s portfolio of clients and manages the growing U.S.-based team. A veteran of five Olympic Games, McBride also has extensive experience providing strategic counsel to brands' sponsorships of the MLB, NFL, and NCAA. Prior to Ketchum, McBride was director of talent and event marketing for London-based Nobok Sports, where he developed events and negotiated media partnerships and endorsement deals for notable UK sports legends. McBride also spent more than six years at Octagon overseeing marketing, PR, and promotional initiatives on behalf of numerous events, properties, and brands. He is regularly tapped for his industry insights by a wide range of media, and he has spoken at several industry conferences and numerous colleges and universities. McBride earned a BA in political science and justice at American University.

Noelle PerilloSpecial OlympicsNoelle Perillo, AU ’00, is the Senior Director of Corporate Alliances at Special Olympics Inc., the global headquarters for the organization. Noelle works with corporate partners like KPMG, Microsoft, Mattel, P&G and Toys”R”Us to provide strategy and program development for sponsorships, cause-related marketing, corporate gifts, in kind donations and employee engagement. Corporate partnerships are essential to Special Olympics’ pursuit of advancing the mission of providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Previously, Noelle worked at Ketchum as a public relations and marketing communications professional. She managed clients in health care, consumer products and corporate responsibility, developing award-winning programs. Noelle earned her BA in Public Communication and Law & Society at American University.

Kamini SharmaFormer UFC, ESPN, NHL ExecutiveKamini Sharma, AU JD ‘89, has had an expansive career with the UFC, ESPN, the NHL and ProServ. Most recently, Sharma ventured to the West to serve as Vice President of Global Marketing at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is now based in southern California. Previously, Sharma worked as marketing director at ESPN in London, England. She also worked at the National Hockey League (NHL) and at one of the first athlete representation agencies in the business, ProServe. Sharma is also considered a pioneer with organizations like Women in Sports and Events (WISE). She holds a JD from American University’s Washington College of Law, and a BA from Ithaca College.

Billy StoneCBS Sports/KISWE Mobile Billy Stone, AU BA ’86, MBA ’89, currently works in the programming group at CBS sports growing the brand for CBS Sports Spectacular at the CBS Sports Network. He also serves as an advisor for the mobile video startup, KISWE. Stone’s 30 year career includes stints owning his own production and distribution sports business in the ‘90’s where his group produced and controlled the distribution rights for Ivy League Sports, MEAC Sports, and several professional and pay per view properties. Stone has been a part of a pair of media startups. Stone joined MYTEAM.com in 2000 an online community for Youth Sports that was sold to Active.com. Stone joined the startup originally names NCSN (National College Sports Network) which launched as CSTV in 2002 as part of the strategic development team for the College Sports network eventually sold to CBS Stone has also consulted DirecTV, inDemand, and AT&T UVerse during his career in the Sports media business. Stone received his MBA from American University. As a freshman, Stone walked on to the AU basketball team, earned a scholarship, and was named a tri-captain of the 1984-85 Eagles.

Ed TapscottMonumental Sports & Entertainment Ed Tapscott, AU JD 85, is recognized as one of the most powerful African Americans in professional sports and has unique experience as a player, coach, agent, and executive in the sports industry. Currently, he serves as Director of Player Personnel for the Washington Wizards NBA franchise. Prior to his appointment to the Washington Wizards, Tapscott was a consultant to the NBA and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Charlotte Bobcats. During his tenure with the Bobcats, Tapscott was responsible for building the NBA’s newest franchise from a start-up operation into a viable business. Additionally, he served as the General Manager and Interim President of the New York Knicks. Tapscott is well known in the basketball community, having broad skills in all aspects of basketball operations, television and media, and player personnel. In 1982, Tapscott became the head coach of AU's men’s basketball team, tallying the second-most wins in school history. In 2006, he was inducted into the Stafford H. Cassell Hall of Fame at AU. Tapscott is a graduate of Tufts University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science and a graduate of AU’s Washington College of Law.

Dr. Billy WalkerAmerican University Dr. William (Billy) Walker is the Director of Athletics and Recreation at American University continuing a distinguished 30-year career in amateur sports and education. Prior to AU, Walker served as the deputy director of athletics and professor and head of the Physical Education Department at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. A recognized expert in intercollegiate athletic issues, Walker has served as chair of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee and was a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee. He was asked to testify as an expert panelist for the U.S. Department of Education Secretary's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. Walker graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in history and was a varsity wrestler team. He earned a Master of Arts from California State University and his doctorate in physical education and sports administration at the University of Northern Colorado.

Matt WinklerThe Sports Event Marketing Experience The Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME) Matt Winkler, MA, APR, has blended more than 20 years of experience in the NCAA, NHL, WNBA, MLS, the Olympics, and the World Cup into innovative strategy for the sports, events, and higher education industries. Mr. Winkler founded, developed, brought to market, and administered the Georgetown University Sports Industry Management initiative (SIM), launched in fall 2008. The program set new industry standards in sports executive faculty and internship practicum, garnering recognition as one of the top programs in the world by SportBusiness International. As a faculty member at AU, Mr. Winkler developed and taught Sports Communication & Media and Sports Marketing Management, which he later introduced at George Mason University and the George Washington University. He has frequently served as an expert resource for the media and has been quoted in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, SportBusiness Journal, and NBC News. Mr. Winkler is also the Founder and Executive Director of The Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME), a premier sports career conference. Mr. Winkler earned his MA in public communication at AU. He was an NCAA student-athlete at Curry College, where he set the school’s men’s soccer scoring record and graduated with a BA in communications. Additionally, Winkler earned his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

To learn more about American University’s online MS in Sports Analytics and Management, request more information or call us toll free at 855-725-7614.